Project overview
This year, many countries will head to the polls to vote for leaders they believe are best placed to meet the challenges of the future. 2024 will see a record 50 elections take place around the world. From the UK to the US, from India to Mexico, from South Africa to Iran, the possibility for political upheaval and change is significant.
There has never been a more important time to ask the question: does religion count?
In the UK, with almost half the population describing themselves as religious, and religious issues currently dominating global politics, the views of religious citizens will help shape the politics of Britain.
Theos, with the assistance of Yinxuan Huang from Bible Society, has been researching how religious identity and adherence influences a range of factors – how likely religious people are to vote, who people from various religious groups are likely to vote for, and their attitudes on key political issues.
What to expect
- Religion Counts Briefing 1 – Do the religious vote? examines whether voters from different religions backgrounds are more or less likely to vote.
- Religion Counts Briefing 2 – Who do the religious vote for? looks at data on party preference – which parties are people from various religious backgrounds likely to vote for?
- Religion Counts Briefing 3 – Do the religious feel like they can make a difference? explores how religious backgrounds influence the difference people feel they can make through politics.
- Religion Counts Briefing 4 – Economic and social values begins to look at political values amongst religious voters. Are they more liberal or more authoritarian? More to the left or the right?
- Religion Counts Briefing 5 – What do the religious think about key election issues? unpacks how religious people in Britain feel about the most important issues facing the UK at this time, including: the economy, the NHS, and immigration.
- Religion Counts Briefing 6: National Identity and Scottish Independence explores what religious people think about national identity.
- Religion Counts Briefing 7: Where do the religious stand on climate change?
- Blogs from experts exploring the role religion is playing in elections across the globe.
Could you help uncover the impact faith can make in this election year by giving to our Religion Counts election appeal?
